About 42.5 per cent children under the age of five years in the country are underweight and the highest number has been registered in Madhya Pradesh, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Monday.

In a written reply to a question on children suffering from malnutrition, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury said as per National Family Health Survey (2005-06) in MP 60 per cent of children under the age of five were under-weight, followed by Jharkhand at 56.5 per cent and Bihar at 55.9 per cent.

To another question on 11 states which have implemented a World Bank supported programme to improve nutrition among children, she said only Kerala [Images] had met the target of 25 per cent decline in malnutrition.

''In Rajasthan, 98 per cent of the intended target was achieved."

The minister further said steps have been taken under the Integrated Child Development Services scheme, including expansion of the ICDS scheme in two phases during 2005-06 and 2006-07 and doubling of financial norms for supplementary nutrition and sharing of 50 per cent cost of supplementary nutrition with the states.

Chowdhary added that constant emphasis is being given to regular supply of supplementary nutrition as per schematic norms, which leads to the effective convergence of health, nutrition, education and safe drinking water services, under various programmes.